The Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art fosters the discovery and appreciation of the visual arts of Africa, the cradle of humanity. The National Museum of African Art is home to a wide-ranging collection with more than 9,000 objects of artworks reflecting the rich cultures of the African continent. The museum's permanent collection, The Walt Disney-Tishman African Art Collection, features approximately 525 artworks from the world-famous collection, including a rare 15th-century ivory tusk carved in Sierra Leone that bears the coats of arms for Portugal's and Spain's ruling houses. Other exhibits on view include: Central Nigeria Unmasked: Arts of the Benue River Valley, African Mosaic: Celebrating a Decade of Collecting, Artists in Dialogue 2: Sandile Zulu and Henrique Oliveira, and A Brave New World.

In addition, the museum offers a variety of education programs, including lectures, public discussions, films, storytelling, musical performances, and workshops with some geared towards involving the whole family.